Jake Hannon

Area Representative, Erie County

Jake Hannon

Area Representative, Erie County

“I like the challenge of starting something from the ground up. It’s like pushing a rock up a hill,” says Buffalo native Jake Hannon who has a passion for improving the environment that he is in, especially when it involves making something from nothing. While at Liberty University he grew a Varsity Club from zero to 900 members in a year.

As FCA’s new Area Representative in Buffalo, Hannon is excited about the opportunity to return to his hometown and help grow the ministry in a relatively untouched area: “Recently, God put a sense of urgency in my heart for the city of Buffalo – a huge vision for the Gospel to be spread there. There are a few FCA huddles going on in the Buffalo area, but it’s a big city, with lots of schools and lots of opportunities, and as the first recently commissioned representative to this region it will involve a lot of groundwork and I’m excited about it.”

Hannon attended West Point’s United States Military Academy for his freshman year. While there, he met FCA’s National Hockey Director, Rick Randazzo. A short while later, Hannon gave his life to the Lord who opened the door for him to transfer to Liberty where he went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Religion. While at Liberty, Hannon played hockey where he was awarded the ACHA Academic All-American, as well as Defenseman of the Year. He also served as chaplain for Liberty’s mens’ hockey team and their youth hockey summer camps.

Upon graduation, Hannon continued on at Liberty where he served as Liberty University’s assistant hockey coach from 2013-15. He has also coached for FCA hockey camps in Buffalo and Boston, as well as many years in Buffalo’s youth hockey programs. In 2011 he founded the CORE Youth Hockey Strength Program, a 3-month long hockey-specific training regimen focused on developing the fast twitch muscle capabilities of Western NY’s elite youth players.

In addition to ministering to youth while coaching hockey, Hannon also has a passion for youth ministry in general, having served as a youth leader for StronG Youth Ministries, Breakout/ LoveBuffalo, eXertion Youth Missions and at Kingdom Bound.

Ministry, family and sports are among Hannon’s greatest loves. He enjoys playing any and all sports, listening to online sermons — with Judah Smith and John Crowder being among some of his favorites — and spending time with his growing family. He and his wife Rebecca have two young children, Grace and Daniel, and are expecting their third, Gabriella, in July.